Bruichladdich The Laddie Twenty Two 22 Year 750ML

Luminous golden yellow

I cannot recall many single malts which have such a disarming and elegant bouquet. Sweet yellow fruits, drizzled with honey and crushed almonds, intertwine wonderfully with freshly picked summer flowers; together they rise serenely on the first pass. It’s a beautiful experience. Then, with a little aeration, it's custard cream and toasted barley, banana bread and vanilla fudge. Marzipan continues to rise, now mingling with a citric twist created by the big sleep beside the Atlantic ocean. The final notes are of the malt and oak, evolving together over 22 years, with the aromatics hinting at the natural beauty of this special place called Islay.

At first you feel the power of the spirit. Its taste spectrum is intriguing, with flavours coming together like the threads of a fine tweed. The harmonious aromatics have merged superbly to give a mouth-feel that is the absolute single malt taste experience. The vanilla oak and lemon and honey lead on the first sips, with the soft, yogurt-like fruit flavours a heartbeat behind. Then it’s that brilliant Abernethy Biscuit, a vanilla wafer, and then sparkling like a firecracker all around the taste buds comes that marine citrus meringue flavour. The palate is experiencing an all-time high, and boy is the heart uplifted. The soul is rejoicing and the spirits are soaring. This is truly a rarespirit of exceptional quality. To call it a classic does notcome close; one of the best Laddies I’ve ever evaluated.

There is no terminal, no finish. This will remain with you long after the bottle has gone." -Producer